Eating locally raised food is a growing trend. But who has time to get to the farmer’s market, let alone plant a garden?
That is where Trevor Paque comes in. For a fee, Mr. Paque, who lives in San Francisco, will build an organic garden in your backyard, weed it weekly and even harvest the bounty, gently placing a box of vegetables on the back porch when he leaves.
Geez Guys! What a great idea!
What do you say? Let's all get together and make some green while turning our beautiful city that way too.
To read the full article, click here.
1049 Washington Avenue
Miami Beach, FL 33139
I stumbled upon this delicious hole-in-the-wall when I practically lived on South Beach. I was introduced to it by a friend and the rest is history. Every time I get in the mood for some Greek/Middle Eastern fare, I drive to the beach at hit up Pita Spice.
Offering plenty of seating in a backyard patio, as well as a couple tables on Washington, Pita Spice offers made-to-order falafel, gyros, salad, and everything in between. Prices are reasonable especially for South Beach.
I always have the turkey shawarma, carved from the spit, heated on the grill, and then stuffed into a soft and yummy pita, packed with fresh hummus, tzaziki, babaghanoush, lettuce, tomatoes, and cucumber. Yum! And of course I have my serving of their delicious grape leaves.
Have a beer or a coke… maybe some Turkish Tea… whatever you please... This little spot is definitely worth a stop, whether you're craving a falafel sandwich or just looking for a place to calm your munchies from all that SOBE partying!
10070 SW 57th Ave
Miami, FL 33156
When I came into work boasting about this tiny, but charming little roadside fruit stand, I couldn’t believe how many people had known about this gem. Where had I been—under a rock? No, truth be told, the people who know of it are locals from the neighborhood. Its faithful customers, parents and kids from neighbor Pinecrest Elementary, wait eagerly in line for their famous strawberry shakes. My God they’re good! All natural, thick and creamy!
For a few bucks you can savor an icy snow cone in all kinds of neat flavor combos or have quick picnic and watch the cars go by. Although Miami’s weather can get too hot to enjoy the outdoors at times, one sip of their strawberry shake or my favorite, the carrot-orange juice can turn Miami’s often unbearable heat into one fabulous and cool afternoon.
Check out the the review:
http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/movies/12food.html?ref=arts
In Food, Inc., filmmaker Robert Kenner lifts the veil on our nation's
food industry, exposing the highly mechanized underbelly that's been
hidden from the American consumer with the consent of our government's
regulatory agencies, USDA and FDA. Our nation's food supply is now
controlled by a handful of corporations that often put profit ahead of
consumer health, the livelihood of the American farmer, the safety of
workers and our own environment. We have bigger-breasted chickens, the
perfect pork chop, insecticide-resistant soybean seeds, even tomatoes
that won't go bad, but we also have new strains of e coli--the harmful
bacteria that causes illness for an estimated 73,000 Americans
annually. We are riddled with widespread obesity, particularly among
children, and an epidemic level of diabetes among adults.
Featuring interviews with such experts as Eric Schlosser (Fast Food
Nation), Michael Pollan (The Omnivore's Dilemma) along with forward
thinking social entrepreneurs like Stonyfield Farm's Gary Hirshberg
and Polyface Farms' Joe Salatin, Food, Inc. reveals surprising -- and
often shocking truths -- about what we eat, how it's produced, who we
have become as a nation and where we are going from here.
60 Merrick Way
Coral Gables
This fun-filled German spot is heaven for beer aficionados. With an impressive array of brews to choose from, and filling fare guaranteed to quell the most intense appetites, it is easy to see why this German Gem is uber fabulous. The chow includes homemade pretzels and herring, pork and chicken schnitzels, variations on bratwurst, sausage loaf, and, of course, apple strudel and Viennese chocolate cake.Tucked away at the end of the street, this wood-paneled Bierstube boasts a wide variety of Austrian and German brews along with friendly wait staff, clad in custom-made lederhosen.
Sit outside on the sturdy wooden benches and sip your cool brew or dine inside. Felling a bit bold? Challenge yourself to drink the liter of beer in a boot! The prices are decent, the atmosphere lively and fun and parking isn’t such a hassle as other popular pots on the mile. Park in the Aragon garage or at the many meters around. Great prices, Great grub, Great times!
13349 Bird Dr
Miami, FL 33175
Oh my God. What can I say about this rinky-dinky Cuban place other than... Its totally fabulous! I was introduced to it one morning and since then I have comeback every Sunday. For $3.50 you can get 2 eggs any style, toast, potatoes, cafe con leche and 2 croquetas! Where can you possibly get all that for such a steal?
The moment you get in, you are greeted by one of the many sweet and too-tight jean wearing waitresses that make this town what it is. The service can be a bit slow depending on the time you get in--this place gets packed with other locals in on this gem. There are usually a bunch of men coming in from the graveyard shift at the bar--most drinking Heineken at 8am!
Don't be put off by the Heineken drinkers or the shabby look of the place. It is hands down the best meal for the best deal! It hits the spot on Sunday mornings when pancakes and grits won't do.
I love Mi Cafeteria... Its delicious, cheap and honestly, I shouldn't share this little spot for fear that the owners will notice their too good to be true deal and take it away. I love this little Cuban breakfast spot. It has become Mi Cafeteria too.
 Coral Gables Restaurant Week is almost upon us, so now is a good time to peruse menus and start making dinner reservations. There are quite a few restaurants participating, so in order to save you a little time, I found the ones that offer the best bang for your buck and total food fabulousness!!! Fleming's : Three courses, $33.95. The first and third courses don't sound all that exciting, but those mains look good: tempura shrimp in chile aioli and pineapple mango salsa; bleu cheese-glazed filet mignon with cabernet butter sauce; and beef short ribs with herbs, spices and pan juices.
Fritz and Frantz Bierhuas: is offering the same options for lunch and dinner, both for $25. Try the goulash for appetizer, sausage sampler for the main, and definitely the sacher torte for dessert.
Ortanique on the Mile is a steal this week with the $35 dinner menu!!!! Appetizer options are soup, mango salad or curried crab cake. For entrees, choose from jerked chicken penne pasta, butterflied spiced pork chop, or curried shrimp and diver scallops. As for dessert, there's rum cake, mango sorbet or guava cheese cake. There are so many restaurants participating and with such prices, you can't afford to not eat in these fabulous food spots! Coral Gables Restaurant Week ... check out the site....
159 Aragon Avenue Coral Gables , FL 33134
305-445-2584
Hours: Mon-Fri 11:30 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Mon-Sat 6:00 p.m.-11:00 p.m.
Practicing for the LSAT has had its blessings. Not only is my score improving weekly, the class is right in front of hands-down one of the best sushi restaurants in Miami: Izakaya.
Don’t be alarmed as you walk in—the friendly owner will immediately shout from a distance-- “hello how are you!” It can be a bit startling, but the food more than makes up for any oddities. It is fresh, authentic and absolutely delicious.
Start with some miso soup and a side salad… coming for lunch? Grab one of the bento boxes… there are many combos to choose from. Staring at $9.00, they are a total steal!
The yakimatsu appetizer is wonderful as are the steamed dumplings.
If you want some adventure, try the numerous specials on the blackboard—they are bound to please and excite! I have tried most of the rolls and I have to say: YUM, YUM, YUM to the lobster roll.
As for dessert, try the cheesecake tempura… sinfully good.
The parking is a bit tough though. With the Westin right across the street, you have to fight off taxi drivers at night and business people during lunch hour for a spot at a meter. But it’s all worth it.
Izakaya is definitely the spot for fresh and fabulous sushi. Don’t miss it!
130 NE 40TH Street
Miami, FL 33137
In searching for a nice spot to celebrate a dear friend’s birthday, we ended up at Michael’s Genuine—a chic, dim-lit, fabulous spot in the up and coming design district. Frequented by celeb diners and raved about by many including New York Times Food God Frank Bruni, I had to try this place for myself. And in all honesty, I wish I wasn’t writing this post for my site. I want Michaels Genuine all for myself. It’s just too good to share. Then again, that wouldn’t be fair to my fabulous foodies out there.
Once we took our seat, we were immediately greeted with a friendly smile and a brief intro about the menu’s dishes and sizes. Basically the Small dishes are single serving appetizers, Snacks and Medium dishes are appetizers and salads that can serve 2 -4 people, Large dishes are a traditional entrée and the Extra Large dishes are entrees to be shared by two people. Just a tip: try to sample a few dishes instead of getting an entrée per person...
We tried something from each size. The Giant Prawns were amazing. Lightly salted and buttered, they melted in your mouth. And if you like chicken wings, an order of them with cucumber sauce is a must—we should have ordered two;The Farm Fresh Pork Chop with pureed turnips and apple chutney – another winner; the Short Ribs with garlic mash potatoes-to die for and the list goes on and on especially when it came to dessert time.
Since we had to get our hands on the desserts we order two and to tell you the truth we probably need to get two more! We shared the Tangerine Pot de Crème served with a piece of pistachio baklava and candied tangerine peel. And although it was a hit, it was the Chocolate Cremoso with sea salt, olive oil, sourdough crostini and espresso parfait –that took the cake. It was the best dessert of the night!
A bright and talented Chef, Michael Schwartz knows what he’s doing. I can’t say it enough. Michael’s is outstanding. Make sure you make reservations and show up on time because this place gets packed-even on weeknights. Set a date and invite some friends or go it alone even-- just make sure you go because Michael’s Genuine is downright genuinely delicious, genuinely fabulous.
100 Collins Avenue (more or less)
Miami Beach, FL 33139
The Room is a great little neighborhood spot right around the corner from the chaos of Opium/Prive. True to its name, it’s literally the size of your bedroom, so if there's more than 20 people there, it can be a bit of a hassle to find a seat. In fact, you might just have to stand the whole time. But this little cozy lounge is totally worth it if you’re just looking for a cute, chic place to throw back a few beers with a few pals.
Once you’re at the Room, you'll be among an upscale and laid-back crowd enjoying a broad spectrum of music ranging from rock to...uh...rock. Their big business is beer - they have quite a selection from around the world - and most even come with their appropriate glass – reminiscent to many European bars where each beer is served in its own specialty glass. There is so much of a selection that you can literally be stumped. Ask the friendly bartenders for advice or be a dare devil and give anyone a go… Wanna be girly? Try the Iambic peche (peach beer) or throw back a Chimay and definitely try the Delirium. The prices are moderate about $6-15 a piece… And for those non-beer drinkers out there, The Room has some great wine selections too.
Come around 10ish, that’s when this place is at its best but be warned: smoking is allowed inside, so you might come out reeking of cigarettes. As for parking, it’s usually not so bad as the other areas of South Beach. Park in the many meters around and note that after midnight, they’re free.
When you're looking for a chill night or a new little spot to take a date for a drink, this dark, sexy, south beach secret is the place to go. Trust me-- it won’t break the bank, you’ll impress your date and even if you don’t, the beer here will! Head to The Room--you won’t regret it.
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